Missionaries coming and going.....
Out with the old in with the new.
so about every six weeks, we receive anywhere from 25-30 something missionaries on a Monday evening. They fly in from Utah, Provo MTC, or the MTC in Mexico. (the ones who are Spanish speaking).
The Mission office staff with several vans and President and his wife go to greet them and pick them up. Then they return here for a brief orientation. We then serve them dinner at the mission President's home. It is quite an undertaking to feed about 40 people, missionaries, staff, etc. They spend the night at the apts and meet their companions in the morning, after the rest of their orientation
My friend Cindy Nemrow, (who was serving in Korea with her husband Norm some years ago) were mission presidents there. SO I learned a lot about her duties.
When I first met with the mission president several weeks ago, I told him I would be happy to help his wife cook for these kinds of gatherings. So Sunday evening she called me asking if I would help along with the office staff. I think she was worried that I would say no. I was happy about it.
I told her I would be happy too. So Mon and Tuesday I only worked at the library at until1 p.m.
Then on Monday (the rest of the day I helped Sister Cordon make food.
First, we made a special rice dish. It was rice layered with sour cream, corn, then parmesan cheese and then layered again.
We also prepared barbecued chicken with her own sauce recipe. (The sauce was put over the rice when we served it on their plates)
Her big kitchen.
Sister Cordon and I.
The chicken three huge lasagna pans full!
I also helped the office ladies who were preparing a HUGEsalad. I worked on cutting up vegetables for it.
Before that, I had sliced tangerines and strawberries for the water dispenser. I set up the napkins, plates, silverware etc.
I felt right at home given my Mom used to throw a lot of parties when I was growing up (some being our cousin gatherings of 25 + people)
Plus I have been cooking for a crowd for a number of years now.
Her kitchen is nice and big and I loved having space to cook in. While I finished up preparations with her, she asked me to finish a few more small details while she went to the airport with her husband.
I kept telling her to go that I would take care of things and she didn't need to worry. She likes to make sure everything is well prepared. She is not used to asking for help, and since she raised only 3 daughters the thought of entertaining such a large crowd I think was bit daunting to her.
In any event, they returned and the missionaries started arriving. We sent them to wash their hands, and Elder Cordon officially welcomed them all. He thanked me publically and gave me credit for having cooked all day (though that wasn't entirely true, as many hands helped) but it was nice to be appreciated.
We had a blessing on the food and then they headed to the kitchen. Once they were served they out to the patio with their full plates. there were quite a few tables and chairs set up.
The missionaries were thanking me for the food, but I told them Sister Cordon had made it all and I had just helped her.
We also served watermelon spears cut by Elder M, it is his specialty. Sorry didn't get a picture of that, maybe next time.
I got to meet all of the Missionaries. When I noticed one young man with a familiar face and saw his name tag, I asked him if he knew a Dean Criddle. Brother Criddle was in my Bishopric in the Berkely YA ward many years ago. The Elder said the man, was his grandfather. (I took a picture of us together and emailed it to his grandfather. I heard back the next day from all his family, about how excited they were to get his picture!) Small world!
Then when I was asking many of them where they came from, one Elder said Wisconsin. I mentioned that my neighbor's son Alex Bean had just returned from that area. I told him his name. He got very excited and said that he knew Eder Bean. The young Elder said that Elder Bean had served in their ward before his mission ended. Turns out this young man's father was the Bishop of that ward. I took a picture and mailed it to my next door neighbor.
Dessert was applie pies from Sam's club and vanilla ice cream. I didn't hear one complaint, (nor did I expect to) they were all so appreciative of a home-cooked meal. I guess while the MTC does make decent food it gets old after awhile. We had plenty of seconds for those hungry Elders. The Sisters helped us serve desserts and many helped to clean up afterward. Then they all headed back to finish the checking in, orientation etc. So all of us staff helped to clean up. I left a little earlier because I had been there longer, and my back was starting to get tired and ache. So I went home and crashed in bed after a nice cooling shower.
The next day we repeated the dinner, this time I worked solo for a few hours because the Cordon's attended the temple with the outgoing missionaries. The office staff arrived to help and put the finishing touches on the meal and set up. I had everything done including the salad, which they really appreciated, as they still needed to make up the sack breakfasts for the missionaries to take the next day, on their way to the airport. We were tired, but I definitely enjoyed myself. All the missionaries loved the cooking! We had to really soak this pan since I and Sister Cordon had never used it before we didn't realize we needed to spray it with oil first! We filled the entire thing with chicken.
well got to get to bed. Will write more tomorrow hopefully.
so about every six weeks, we receive anywhere from 25-30 something missionaries on a Monday evening. They fly in from Utah, Provo MTC, or the MTC in Mexico. (the ones who are Spanish speaking).
The Mission office staff with several vans and President and his wife go to greet them and pick them up. Then they return here for a brief orientation. We then serve them dinner at the mission President's home. It is quite an undertaking to feed about 40 people, missionaries, staff, etc. They spend the night at the apts and meet their companions in the morning, after the rest of their orientation
My friend Cindy Nemrow, (who was serving in Korea with her husband Norm some years ago) were mission presidents there. SO I learned a lot about her duties.
When I first met with the mission president several weeks ago, I told him I would be happy to help his wife cook for these kinds of gatherings. So Sunday evening she called me asking if I would help along with the office staff. I think she was worried that I would say no. I was happy about it.
I told her I would be happy too. So Mon and Tuesday I only worked at the library at until1 p.m.
Then on Monday (the rest of the day I helped Sister Cordon make food.
First, we made a special rice dish. It was rice layered with sour cream, corn, then parmesan cheese and then layered again.
We also prepared barbecued chicken with her own sauce recipe. (The sauce was put over the rice when we served it on their plates)
Her big kitchen.
Sister Cordon and I.
The chicken three huge lasagna pans full!
Before that, I had sliced tangerines and strawberries for the water dispenser. I set up the napkins, plates, silverware etc.
I felt right at home given my Mom used to throw a lot of parties when I was growing up (some being our cousin gatherings of 25 + people)
Plus I have been cooking for a crowd for a number of years now.
Her kitchen is nice and big and I loved having space to cook in. While I finished up preparations with her, she asked me to finish a few more small details while she went to the airport with her husband.
I kept telling her to go that I would take care of things and she didn't need to worry. She likes to make sure everything is well prepared. She is not used to asking for help, and since she raised only 3 daughters the thought of entertaining such a large crowd I think was bit daunting to her.
In any event, they returned and the missionaries started arriving. We sent them to wash their hands, and Elder Cordon officially welcomed them all. He thanked me publically and gave me credit for having cooked all day (though that wasn't entirely true, as many hands helped) but it was nice to be appreciated.
We had a blessing on the food and then they headed to the kitchen. Once they were served they out to the patio with their full plates. there were quite a few tables and chairs set up.
The missionaries were thanking me for the food, but I told them Sister Cordon had made it all and I had just helped her.
We also served watermelon spears cut by Elder M, it is his specialty. Sorry didn't get a picture of that, maybe next time.
I got to meet all of the Missionaries. When I noticed one young man with a familiar face and saw his name tag, I asked him if he knew a Dean Criddle. Brother Criddle was in my Bishopric in the Berkely YA ward many years ago. The Elder said the man, was his grandfather. (I took a picture of us together and emailed it to his grandfather. I heard back the next day from all his family, about how excited they were to get his picture!) Small world!
Then when I was asking many of them where they came from, one Elder said Wisconsin. I mentioned that my neighbor's son Alex Bean had just returned from that area. I told him his name. He got very excited and said that he knew Eder Bean. The young Elder said that Elder Bean had served in their ward before his mission ended. Turns out this young man's father was the Bishop of that ward. I took a picture and mailed it to my next door neighbor.
Dessert was applie pies from Sam's club and vanilla ice cream. I didn't hear one complaint, (nor did I expect to) they were all so appreciative of a home-cooked meal. I guess while the MTC does make decent food it gets old after awhile. We had plenty of seconds for those hungry Elders. The Sisters helped us serve desserts and many helped to clean up afterward. Then they all headed back to finish the checking in, orientation etc. So all of us staff helped to clean up. I left a little earlier because I had been there longer, and my back was starting to get tired and ache. So I went home and crashed in bed after a nice cooling shower.
The next day we repeated the dinner, this time I worked solo for a few hours because the Cordon's attended the temple with the outgoing missionaries. The office staff arrived to help and put the finishing touches on the meal and set up. I had everything done including the salad, which they really appreciated, as they still needed to make up the sack breakfasts for the missionaries to take the next day, on their way to the airport. We were tired, but I definitely enjoyed myself. All the missionaries loved the cooking! We had to really soak this pan since I and Sister Cordon had never used it before we didn't realize we needed to spray it with oil first! We filled the entire thing with chicken.
well got to get to bed. Will write more tomorrow hopefully.
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